Oleander / Kaner — India's toughest flowering shrub. EXTREMELY TOXIC — all parts fatal, never burn. Pollution and drought tolerant. Continuous flowering year-round.
Oleander / Kaner — India का toughest flowering shrub। EXTREMELY TOXIC — सभी parts fatal, कभी मत जलाओ। Pollution और drought tolerant। Year-round flowering।
Oleander (Nerium oleander) — Kaner — is one of India's most widely planted roadside and garden shrubs, beloved for its continuous flowering in vivid shades of pink, red, white, yellow and salmon through most of the year, its remarkable tolerance of heat, drought, poor soil and pollution, and its bold architectural presence in landscapes. Found lining highways, railway tracks, city dividers and garden borders across India, Oleander is one of the most visually familiar plants in the country. However, Oleander carries a critical warning — it is one of the most toxic plants in the world, with every part containing potent cardiac glycosides that can be fatal in small quantities to humans and animals.
Oleander (Nerium oleander) — Kaner — India का most widely planted roadside और garden shrubs में से एक। Pink, red, white, yellow में continuous flowering। Heat, drought, poor soil, pollution tolerance। Highways, railway tracks, city dividers — India में most visually familiar plant। CRITICAL WARNING — world के most toxic plants में से एक — हर part FATAL हो सकता है।
🌸 What is Oleander / Kaner? — Complete Information
| 🔬 Scientific Name | Nerium oleander |
| 🌿 Common Names | Oleander, Kaner, Rose Bay, Rose Laurel |
| 🇮🇳 Hindi Names | कनेर (Kaner), करवीर (Karveer), लाल कनेर (Lal Kaner) |
| 👨👩👧 Plant Family | Apocynaceae (same as Plumeria, Adenium, Vinca) |
| 🌍 Origin | Mediterranean, Middle East — naturalized across tropical Asia |
| 📏 Size | 2–6 meters — large shrub to small tree |
| 🌱 Type | Perennial evergreen shrub |
| ☠️ Toxicity | EXTREMELY TOXIC — all parts fatal. One leaf can kill a child. Never burn wood — smoke toxic. |
⚠️ Toxicity — Critical Safety Information
- One of the world's most toxic plants: Oleander contains oleandrin and neriine — powerful cardiac glycosides that cause heart arrhythmia, cardiac arrest and death. A single leaf can kill a small child. Honey made from Oleander nectar ("mad honey") causes mass poisoning. This is not exaggeration — Oleander poisoning is a serious medical emergency in India every year.
- Never burn Oleander wood or leaves: Smoke from burning Oleander is toxic — causes severe respiratory distress and cardiac effects. Never use as firewood, never burn prunings. Dispose of prunings by bagging and discarding — never composting or burning.
- Safe to grow with precautions: Despite extreme toxicity, Oleander is safe in gardens when adults understand the risk and keep children and pets away. Wear gloves always when pruning. Wash hands thoroughly after any contact. Educate children that this plant must never be touched or tasted.
- Emergency: If any part ingested — emergency medical care immediately. Do not induce vomiting. Call 112 or nearest poison control.
💧 Oleander Care — India Specific
- Pollution and salt tolerance: Oleander is one of very few ornamental plants that thrives in heavy air pollution (roadside, industrial areas) and coastal salt air. This makes it invaluable for highway planting, coastal landscaping and urban divider beautification — conditions that kill most ornamental plants.
- Pruning after each flush: Cut back flowering branches by 30-40% after each bloom flush. This encourages vigorous new growth with the next flowering flush. Wear thick gloves — sap is toxic. Do not touch face during pruning.
- Propagation — easy cuttings: 20-30 cm semi-hardwood cuttings root in water or moist cocopeat in 3-4 weeks. Wear gloves. Oleander cuttings in water are one of the most reliable propagation methods of any shrub.